Vio Island is increasingly focused on climate safety as it faces a heightened risk from cyclones this season. Villager Semi Mana highlighted the island’s history of severe weather events, noting that the community has endured multiple disasters, including Cyclone Bebe in 1972, Cyclone Winston in 2016, and Cyclone Harold in 2020, which led to flooding and the need for full evacuations.
Mana pointed out that as a government-owned island, Vio is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and has experienced significant repercussions over the past three decades. Reflecting on past events, he recounted, “During Winston, we were evacuated to the mainland and stayed with the Koro nation. The only ones left on the island were the young men, who remained to keep our houses safe by securing them with sandbags.”
In preparation for this year’s cyclone season, the local authorities have prioritized the safety of women and children during emergencies, ensuring that police and military personnel assist them in reaching safety on the mainland. To bolster their resilience against future storms, the government has established an evacuation center on Vio Island, which will provide a safe haven for villagers during the cyclone season.
The community’s proactive steps to enhance their preparedness could serve as a model for other vulnerable regions, emphasizing the importance of disaster readiness in the face of climate challenges.
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